Abstract:

An irrigation sprinkler head has an auxiliary nozzle carrier for carrying
extra nozzles. Each nozzle is held on a flexible and resilient nozzle
carrier and supported on a sprinkler head by one of the nozzles on the
nozzle carrier being operatively attached to the sprinkler head. The
nozzles are rapidly exchanged on the sprinkler head by disconnecting one
nozzle from the sprinkler head, and connecting a second nozzle to the
sprinkler head without removing either nozzle from the carrier and
without the use of tools. The nozzle carrier is flexible between the
nozzle holding ends so that the nozzle carrier can flex between the ends
thereof to absorb impact without damage and can be used below a crop
line.

Claims:

1. A auxiliary nozzle carrier for a pair of nozzles for a sprinkler head
comprising:a nozzle carrier body having two end portions spaced by a
generally stepped center portion, each end portion having means for
attaching a nozzle thereto, said generally stepped center portion being
flexible and resilient whereby one attached nozzle can move relative to a
second attached nozzle so that contact with one nozzle flexes the nozzle
carrier to prevent damage to the nozzle carrier or other nozzle.

2. The auxiliary nozzle carrier having a pair of nozzles for a sprinkler
head in accordance with claim 1 in which each end portion of said nozzle
carrier has an opening therein shaped to hold one said nozzle therein.

3. The auxiliary nozzle carrier having a pair of nozzles for a sprinkler
head in accordance with claim 2 in which each end portion of said nozzle
carrier has an opening shaped for holding one said nozzle upside down
from the other said nozzle on the other end portion of said nozzle
carrier whereby one said nozzle can be disconnected from said sprinkler
head and said nozzle carrier rotated to attach the other said nozzle to
said sprinkler head.

4. The auxiliary nozzle carrier having a pair of nozzles for a sprinkler
head in accordance with claim 3 in which said nozzle carrier is made of
an elastomer.

5. The auxiliary nozzle carrier having a pair of nozzles for a sprinkler
head in accordance with claim 4 in which said nozzle carrier has a living
hinge between the end portions thereof.

6. An auxiliary nozzle carrier having a pair of nozzles for a sprinkler
head comprising:a nozzle carrier body having two end portions, each end
portion being offset from the other end portion and each end portion
having a nozzle attached thereto, each said nozzle being attachable to a
sprinkler head and each said offset nozzle being flexibly held by said
nozzle carrier to the other said nozzle to allow one said nozzle to move
relative to the other nozzle by the flexing of said nozzle
carrier;whereby one attached nozzle can move relative to a second
attached nozzle while attached to a sprinkler head to prevent damage to
the nozzle carrier and other nozzle.

7. The auxiliary nozzle carrier having a pair of nozzles for a sprinkler
head in accordance with claim 6 in which each end portion of said nozzle
carrier has an opening therein shaped to hold one said nozzle therein.

8. The auxiliary nozzle carrier having a pair of nozzles for a sprinkler
head in accordance with claim 7 in which each said end portion of said
nozzle carrier has an opening shaped for holding one said nozzle upside
down from the other said nozzle on the other end portion of said nozzle
carrier whereby one said nozzle can be disconnected from said sprinkler
head and said carrier rotated to attach the other said nozzle.

9. The auxiliary nozzle carrier having a pair of nozzles for a sprinkler
head in accordance with claim 8 in which said nozzle carrier is made of
an elastomer.

10. The auxiliary nozzle carrier having a pair of nozzles for a sprinkler
head in accordance with claim 9 in which said nozzle carrier has a living
hinge between the end portions thereof.

11. A sprinkler having an auxiliary nozzle carrier having a pair of
nozzles comprising:a sprinkler housing having a housing passageway
therethrough having an inlet for connecting to a source of water and an
outlet therefrom, said outlet having a side window for inserting a nozzle
from the side of said housing passageway;an auxiliary nozzle carrier
having two end portions, each end portion being offset from the other end
portion and each end portion having a nozzle attached thereto, each said
nozzle having a nozzle passageway therethrough, and being shaped to fit
into said housing side window and axially aligned with said housing
passageway and said nozzle passageway and each said nozzle having
latching means for removably latching said nozzle to said housing;whereby
either said nozzle can be attached to said sprinkler housing while
holding the other said nozzle in said auxiliary nozzle carrier to said
sprinkler and which one nozzle can be rapidly exchanged with the other
nozzle on the sprinkler head by disconnecting said one nozzle from said
sprinkler head, and connecting the said other nozzle to said sprinkler
head without removing either nozzle from said nozzle carrier.

12. A sprinkler having an auxiliary nozzle carrier having a pair of
nozzles in accordance with claim 11 in which said latching means includes
a pair of spaced protrusions each having a notch therein.

13. A sprinkler having an auxiliary nozzle carrier having a pair of
nozzles in accordance with claim 12 in which each said nozzle latching
means includes a pair of spaced arms each having a tab thereon for
engaging one said spaced protrusion tab for engaging said notches to
removably latch said nozzle to said sprinkler housing.

Description:

[0002]The present invention relates to an irrigation sprinkler head
flexible auxiliary nozzle carrier for supporting a plurality of nozzles
held on a sprinkler head by one of the nozzles being operatively attached
to the sprinkler head. The nozzle carrier is flexible and resilient
between the ends thereof and absorbs impact without damage allowing the
sprinkler head to be used below a crop line.

[0003]A variety of irrigation systems are used throughout the world or
irrigating crops and groves. One common system used for irrigation is a
sprinkler system having a plurality of sprinkler heads coming from a
central water supply line for distributing water over a surface area.
These systems may use a moving supply line for irrigating food crops,
groves and the like. The sprinkler units typically have replaceable
nozzles so that different nozzles may be selected and mounted in the
sprinkler unit to achieve a desired range or rate of coverage or simply
to replace a defective nozzle. An irrigation system may also have many
different sprinkler units of the same type with each having different
nozzles and it is sometimes desirable and necessary to change the nozzles
often for a given area to obtain an optimum irrigation of an area of
coverage. This requires maintaining different sprinkler nozzles and
selecting the nozzle for a particular coverage after a sprinkler system
is installed. Many current nozzles are removably attached to a sprinkler
head in which the nozzle or a cover for the nozzle is threadedly attached
which requires unscrewing a nozzle or cap for the nozzle, finding a
replaceable nozzle, and attaching the new nozzles onto the sprinkler
unit. This is sometimes difficult because the nozzle is positioned so it
cannot be gripped easily to unscrew the nozzle or to simply pull out the
nozzle in the case of a press-fitted nozzle. It is also necessary to have
a replacement nozzle handy for exchanging nozzles on the sprinkler head.

[0004]In Applicant's prior U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/215,661,
filed Jun. 30, 2008, for a Quick Change Nozzle an irrigation sprinkler
has a rapid change nozzle which can be snapped-in from the side of the
sprinkler outlet and then quickly unsnapped and removed.

[0005]Other prior art removable sprinkler nozzles may be seen in the
McKenzie U.S. Pat. No. 5,234,169 for a removable sprinkler nozzle in
which the nozzle fits in a recessed seat and has a rotatable upper cover
and a camming surface formed on the cover which extends down into
engagement with the nozzle. The cam surface is shaped to push the nozzle
at least partially out of its seat during rotation of the cover to allow
a user to be able to grip the nozzle and complete its removal by pulling
outward on the nozzle. The cover also includes a locking rib which can be
brought to bear against the nozzle when the nozzle is fully received in
its seat to help retain the nozzle in place. In the Scott et al. U.S.
Pat. No. 5,699,962, a sprinkler unit has a nozzle in which the sprinkler
body has an outlet having a nozzle receiving socket for a removable
nozzle mounted in the sprinkler outlet. The lodging device in the socket
is used for latching engagement with the nozzle for retaining the nozzle
in the socket. In the Hart U.S. Pat. No. 3,799,453, a quick disconnect
nozzle for an irrigation sprinkler is fitted with a screw threaded
connection to the sprinkler outlet. The Anuskiewicz U.S. Pat. No.
6,871,795 is an irrigation sprinkler with an easily removable nozzle.

[0006]The present invention relates to an irrigation sprinkler system in
which a nozzle attached to a sprinkler head needs to be exchanged for
another size nozzle at some time during the growing season. In a typical
irrigation system sprinkler heads with one or more auxiliary nozzles, the
sprinkler head carries two or more nozzles in a rigid nozzle carrier.
While one nozzle in the carrier is being utilized by the sprinkler, an
alternate nozzle is held off to the side, out of the water spray. To
change the nozzle, the nozzle that was being used is removed from the
sprinkler, the nozzle carrier is flipped around and a new nozzle is
installed into the sprinkler. The nozzle is held off to the side, out of
the spray, but the nozzle and carrier are vulnerable to damage.

[0007]Sprinklers mounted on flexible drops from a central water line are
also prone to blowing around in high winds. This random movement allows
the sprinklers to impact one another and the support structure itself. If
the alternate nozzle or the nozzle carrier is struck, the nozzle and/or
nozzle carrier can get damaged or broken off and lost. In addition these
sprinklers are often dragged through taller crops and if the carrier gets
hooked on a plant, it will break the carrier and the alternate nozzle
will be lost. Sprinklers can also be dragged along the ground when a
field has high and low spots. If a rigid carrier and nozzle system
impacts something hard or gets hooked on a plant and pulled, the
sprinkler itself can be unscrewed and lost.

[0008]The present invention prevents damage to the carrier, loss of the
alternate nozzle(s) and the unwanted unscrewing of the sprinkler. The
flexible carrier prevents damage to the nozzle carrier itself and reduces
the chance that the working nozzle will become dislodged by impact or
contact with other sprinklers, center pivot structures, or crops.

[0009]One prior art auxiliary nozzle holder can be seen in U.S. Pat. No.
5,762,269, to Sweet, for a Nozzle Clip. The nozzle clip holds two
nozzles, one of which is connected to an adapter on the sprinkler head
for receiving a quick change nozzle. The clip is reversible such that the
first and second nozzles are selectively mounted on the adapter.

[0010]The present invention relates to an auxiliary nozzle carrier for
carrying an extra sprinkler nozzle for an irrigation sprinkler capable of
absorbing impact without damage while being able to deflect away from
obstacles rather than becoming damaged by them.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0011]An auxiliary nozzle carrier is provided for a sprinkler head for
holding a second or plurality of nozzles to the sprinkler head. The
auxiliary nozzle carrier can hold any number of nozzles desired. The
nozzle carrier body has two end portions spaced by a generally stepped or
offset center portion. Each end portion has means for attaching a nozzle
thereto. The generally stepped or offset center portion is flexible and
resilient so that an attached nozzle or nozzles can move relative to
another attached nozzle so that contact with one nozzle flexes the nozzle
carrier to prevent damage to the nozzle carrier or other nozzle. Each
nozzle is held to one end portion of the nozzle carrier by a specially
shaped opening or window for retaining the nozzle. The nozzle carrier may
be made of an elastomer or rubber or may be a living hinge.

[0012]A sprinkler having an auxiliary nozzle carrier and two or more
nozzles each having a sprinkler housing having a housing passageway
therethrough having an inlet for connecting to a source of water and an
outlet therefrom. The sprinkler head may have an outlet having a side
window for inserting a rapid change nozzle from the side of the housing
passageway. The auxiliary nozzle carrier has two end portions, with each
end portion being offset from the other end portion and each end portion
having a nozzle attached thereto. Each nozzle has a nozzle passageway
therethrough, and is attached to the housing to axially align the housing
passageway and with a nozzle passageway. Each nozzle has attaching means
for removably attaching the nozzle to the housing. Any one of the nozzles
attached to the auxiliary nozzle carrier can be attached to the sprinkler
housing while holding the other nozzle or nozzles in the auxiliary nozzle
carrier to the sprinkler. One nozzle can be rapidly exchanged with
another nozzle on the sprinkler head by disconnecting one from the
sprinkler head, and connecting the other to the sprinkler without
removing a nozzle from said nozzle carrier.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013]Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention
will be apparent from the written description and the drawings in which:

[0014]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an auxiliary nozzle carrier in
accordance with the present invention;

[0015]FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of auxiliary nozzle carrier
of FIG. 1 having a nozzle being attached thereto;

[0016]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the auxiliary nozzle carrier of
FIGS. 1 and 2 having a pair of nozzles attached thereto;

[0017]FIG. 4 is a side elevation of the auxiliary nozzle carrier of FIG. 3
showing the flexing thereof in phantom;

[0018]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an irrigation sprinkler head having
the auxiliary nozzle carrier supporting an auxiliary nozzle;

[0019]FIG. 6 is a partial sectional view of a sprinkler head having a
nozzle supported on the nozzle carrier being attached thereto; and

[0020]FIG. 7 is a partial sectional view of the sprinkler head of FIG. 6
having a nozzle and nozzle carrier and auxiliary nozzle mounted therein.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0021]The present invention relates to an irrigation sprinkler head
flexible auxiliary nozzle carrier for supporting two or more nozzles held
on a sprinkler head by one of the nozzles being operatively attached to
the sprinkler head.

[0022]Referring to the drawings FIGS. 1 through 4, a flexible nozzle
carrier 10 can be seen having openings or passageways 11 and 12. The
openings are identical except for one being upside down from the other.
The carrier has an offset or stepped and angled flexible area 13 between
the ends thereof which has an enlarged groove 14. The flexible nozzle
carrier 10 has a nozzle 15 mounted in one end thereof and a nozzle 16
mounted in the other end thereof. The nozzles 15 and 16 can be seen to be
mounted upside down from each other.

[0023]Each nozzle has a pair of latching arms 17 having a pair of snap
tabs 18, which arms have been inserted through the carrier 10 opening 11
for one nozzle and the opening 12 for the other nozzle. Each handle
section has a gripping portion 20 so that the arms 17 protruding through
the openings 11 and 12 in the nozzle carrier 10 may be squeezed together.
Each nozzle 15 and 16 has a tongue 21 protruding therefrom used for
mounting the nozzle to a sprinkler head. The offset or stepped area 13
advantageously places the auxiliary nozzle out of the way of the water
spray from the sprinkler head by the angle of the offset area 13 set to
raise the level of the auxiliary nozzle. It should, however, be clear
that any other type of nozzle, such as a threadedly attached nozzle can
be supported on the auxiliary nozzle without departing from the spirit
and scope of the invention.

[0024]As seen in FIG. 4, a sprinkler head 25 has a threaded connector 26
for attaching to a water source for water to pass through the sprinkler
head 25. The sprinkler head 25 has a water dispersion portion 27
supported by a plurality of arms 28 and has a nozzle 15 mounted therein
and supporting a flexible nozzle carrier 10 supporting an auxiliary
nozzle 16 on the opposite end of the nozzle carrier 10 from the nozzle
15. The nozzle carrier 10 is made of a flexible and resilient material or
can be made with a living hinge to allow flexibility to the stepped or
angled portion 13 of the carrier 10. This allows the flexible nozzle
carrier 10 to flex if something hits the auxiliary nozzle 16 in FIG. 5
causing it to flex, as shown in the phantom view in FIG. 4. This prevents
the auxiliary nozzle 15 from being damaged when struck by an object and,
at the same time, prevents the nozzle 15 from being knocked loose from
the sprinkler head 25.

[0025]The sprinkler head 25 can be dragged through tall crops where it is
constantly being hooked on other plants where the nozzle 15 auxiliary
nozzle 16 can be knocked loose from a carrier. The sprinkler can also be
dragged along the ground when the field has high and low spots without
the auxiliary nozzle being knocked loose or the nozzle being knocked from
the sprinkler head. In addition, sprinklers mounted on flexible drops on
center pivot supply lines and the like are prone to blowing around in
high winds and randomly impact one against another. The present auxiliary
nozzle carrier will flex whenever the auxiliary nozzle catches on a plant
or is struck by an object or another sprinkler.

[0026]The angled offset flexible center portion of the carrier 10 is
angled to raise the auxiliary nozzle above the water being sprayed or
distributed by the sprinkler head 25 as the water passes through the
opening 30 of the nozzle 15 and impinges upon the water distribution
surface 31. The nozzle carrier 10 can be made of any strong flexible
material, such as rubber or a flexible elastomer.

[0027]The mounting of a nozzle having the auxiliary nozzle carrier
attached is seen in FIGS. 6 and 7. The water outlet 30 of the nozzle
sprinkler body 25 has a side opening or window 32 for inserting the
nozzle 15. The sprinkler head 25 has a recessed area 33 on the opposite
side of the body from the window 32. Latching members 34 are formed on
the sprinkler body 25 adjacent to and above the side window 32. The
tongue 21 may be of a rounded shape and is sized to fit in the recessed
area 33 of the sprinkler head body. The pair of arms 17 on the nozzle 15
has a pair of snap connectors or latching members 18 for engaging the
sprinkler body latching members 34.

[0028]In operation, the nozzle 15, as seen in FIGS. 6 and 7, can be
grasped by handles 20 on the arms 17 for inserting the nozzle 15 through
the side window 32 and the tongue 21 inserted into the recess 33 of the
sprinkler head allowing the nozzle 15 to be rotated with a lever action
on the tongue 21 in the recess 33. Arms 17 are pressed together to move a
pair of snap tabs 18 inward towards each other where they can be snapped
into position so that when the handles are released, the nozzle is locked
in place, aligning the passageway of nozzle 15 with the outlet of the
sprinkler head 25. The nozzle arms 17 are squeezed together for
disengaging the latching mechanism for nozzle removal.

[0029]It should be clear at this time that an auxiliary nozzle carrier fox
an irrigation sprinkler has been provided which is capable of absorbing
impact without damage and which is able to deflect away from obstacles to
avoid damage. The auxiliary nozzle carrier is both flexible and tear
resistant. However, the present invention is not to be construed as
limited to the forms shown which is to be considered illustrative rather
than restrictive.